Life without the TEAM

Today, my administrator was gone. He was in the hospital getting some tests run this weekend and because of that, he was gone today. I can't fault him for falling sick. I mean, we are practically working around the clock these days and even this weekend, I felt a little cold myself (but I warded it off with a round of zinc!).

But, today, I really felt the absense. Francis has been working by my side and has been so awesomely helpful since school has gotten underway. There isn't a day when he isn't running after me with something I have left behind (phone, keys...you name it). Well, today with him gone, let's just say that I pretty much lost my mind.

First of all, the day started off with a parade of parents coming through to pay for fees or ask questions about enrollment (of which we have over 50 parents on the waiting list!). That was a little stressful to begin with as, well, I don't speak Twi and Mr. Francis usually does all that stuff.

Second of all, Pamela came today full force! If you haven't heard any of my Pamela stories, I'm sure you'll hear more in future blogs! Let's just say that we're having a ball keeping our little Pamela busy these days. She has Down Syndrome and she loves to run away from anyone like it's a game. We are lucky enough that we have found a teacher to work with her one on one and I'll be training her tomorrow. I'll certainly be glad for the help as she has been running out of her classroom to commit all kinds of troublesome acts around the school since her arrival! I'm certainly glad to have her at the school, but very glad that we will have some one on one help from now on!

I have been meeting with some students to work on phonics instruction and get them caught up on what they should be learning, but it kept getting interruppted today. Today, we had about 6 kids come to the office because they weren't feeling well. One kid, Angelo, was so sick, I had to call John to take him home. He had malaria and needed treatment right away! He was shivering on our little office chairs. Besides that, I had parent meetings about sponsorships, kids in time out in my office, Miracle stopping by incessently with a boil that has been bothering him, and teachers popping in with different questions or concerns. It was quite a day!

Then, at the close of the day, our furniture finally arrived at the school. We've been waiting to get furniture from the other school, and it finally arrived. So, we loaded everything into the office and sped off. I think I'll have quite a job to do tomorrow to sort through everything that we now have in there! Quite a day!

And tonight, I am putting together my own version of an IEP as I meet tomorrow with Pamela's new teacher and her mom to talk about some strategies that we'll be using to teach Pamela. Wow! Sometimes I think to myself, what have I gotten myself into? And other times, when I see the joy on the faces of our students, or the happiness of a parent that has been offered a sponsorship for their child, I realize the sweet blessings of being here in this time and in this place!

Let's just say that I'm certainly thankful for Francis and I'll be happy to have him back at work when he's feeling better!